OFFICIAL FALLING AXE PREDICTION THREAD

We should sign David Eckstein. He can't hit but no one chews tail like him. I don't think he looks in the mirror much so maybe platoon him with someone with a high mirror looking percent.
 
I've been saying Wren for one more year with a chance to hire a different manager and put up a more well-rounded team. But with every pathetic loss, I lean more and more toward wanting everyone gone. If Fredi gets canned, I could see this organization keeping it in house with Pendleton or Perez. I think it's time to try something different, though. I think McDowell could be on the short list for teams out there looking for managers.
 
Bring Bobby back.

Manager: Bobby Cox
Bench Coach: Joel Skinner
Pitching Coach: Roger McDowell
Hitting Coach: Rudy Jaramillo
Assistant Hitting Coach/Video Coordinator: Edgar Renteria
Third Base Coach: Terry Pendleton
1st Base Coach: Keith Lockhart
Bullpen Coach: Eddie Perez
 
I don't know alot about him and he's a great pitching coach, but why not McDowell for manager?
 
I believe the failures this season comes down to a few thing, but the main one is still on-field leadership. Whether it's Freddie, Justin or Jason, someone isn't stepping up and staking their claim in this team. I can watch this team and see the amount of individual frustration and if I had to bet, I'd say it's not being taken out to the full team. I look at Freddie as being completely different than last year too. He looks incredibly stressed half the time with a pissy attitude. I don't know if it's because his buddy Dan Uggla is gone, because he's getting married soon or because he feels the weight of the team is on his shoulders, but he's not been much of a leader at all.

The second issue comes down to the fact that we can't set up a solid hitting team with a group of players with are feast or famine. You just can't. Even worse, our lineup can't stay consistent due to players completely sucking ass. We've got to find a solid hitting outfielder and balance this lineup out. I was furious that we didn't sign Michael Bourn for more than the QO we sent and signed BJ. We needed a leadoff guy... that's what this team has needed!

Bourn/Whoever lol CF

JUP RF

Freddie 1B

Gattis C

Heyward RF

TLS/Goss 2B

CJoh? 3B

Simmons SS

That's just a much better lineup in my opinion.

Anyways, I completely believe that this team would be completely different if we had someone stepping up to be a good leader for this clubhouse. Losing Huddy and BMac are the two biggest loses this team could possible have. The Braves lost true Braves.

I get frustrated with Fredi and plenty of Wren's signings, but I'm not completely against them leaving. I believe it's more on the field than anything.
 
nsacpi said:
Between Peraza, Cunningham, Wren and Terdoslavich, we might have an acceptable internal solution for the third outfielder as well.

I do agree on the need for a starting pitcher. And I think our top priority should be extending Heyward and Justin Upton, which makes it important that we move as much of BJ's contract as possible.
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I couldn't disagree more. The situation for the 3rd OFer this offseason is going to be exactly the same as the situation at 2B last offseason. There is even less money and trade resources to play with this offseason, but something along the lines of:

- Bring in a guy like Aoki for $3M-$5M per year on a 2-3 year deal and let him bat at the top of the lineup.

- If BJ is moved then bring back Boni to be the 4th OFer.

- QO to Santana with hopes of signing him to a 3 year deal in the $40M-$48M range.

- Keep Gattis for crying out loud unless some team gives the Braves an impact option for 3B, 2B, OF or SP (nobody will).

- Bench of CB, Terdo, Boni/BJ, Goss/CJ/TLS plus one old veteran who will undoubtedly be terrible as a PHer.
 
More or less:

Gattis $0.5
Freeman $8.5
TLS $0.5
CJ $6.0
Simmons $3.0
Justin $14.5
Heyward $7.8
Aoki $3.0

CB $0.5
Goss $0.5
BJ $14.5
Terdo $0.5
FA $1.0

Teheran $1.0
Wood $0.5
Minor $5.0
Santana $15.0
SP5 $1.0

Kimbrel $9.0
Walden $2.5
Shae $0.5
Avilan $0.5
Varvaro $1.0
BP6 $1.0
BP7 $0.5

total $98.3

Obviously the CJ contract was stupid, but if he can be unloaded then his money plus Uggla's money can go towards keeping JUp and Heyward past next year. I don't see the Braves saving a dime by getting rid of BJ, so use him as a 4th OFer.

I have to assume all the built in raises for Kimbrel, Simmons, Freeman and Teheran were supposed to be paid for by projected increased revenue of the new stadium and reworked TV deal.
 
Cunningham is a very acceptable option as a CF; but can he hit? Wren might be, but his hitting already has red flags. Peraza has never played CF; that's not something a 20-21 yr. old rookie learns in the majors. In other words, if BJ makes it to spring training, he's got the job.
 
Julio3000 said:
I'm not gonna deny that, or that we miss those guys, but let's not forget that every one of those guys—plus Larry Jones—was on the roster during the 2011 collapse.
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2011 was a collapse, mainly due to overuse of the bullpen. But 2014 is a totally different animal. This team is not a collapse. Its a never was. Other than that nine game winning streak in June and the start we haven't played good ball all year long. 2011 vs. 2014 are not close to comprable.
 
VirginiaBrave said:
2011 was a collapse, mainly due to overuse of the bullpen. But 2014 is a totally different animal. This team is not a collapse. Its a never was. Other than that nine game winning streak in June and the start we haven't played good ball all year long. 2011 vs. 2014 are not close to comprable.
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The 2011 Braves scored 7 runs in their 0-5 final week. The team hit .235 with .300 OBP in September, both 14th in the NL. They fired Larry Parrish immediately after the season. Because he, yannow, caused the bullpen collapse.

Its a never was.

Ok, maybe so. What's more likely to be a solution to the problem? Better players or more ass-chewing?
 
Manager: Ron Washington
Bench Coach: Ron Johnson
Hitting Coach: Don Baylor
Hitting Assistant: Chipper
Pitching Coach: Roger McDowell
1st Base Coach: TP
Third Base Coach: Snitker
Bullpen: Eddie Perez
 
Julio3000 said:
The 2011 Braves scored 7 runs in their 0-5 final week. The team hit .235 with .300 OBP in September, both 14th in the NL. They fired Larry Parrish immediately after the season. Because he, yannow, caused the bullpen collapse.

Its a never was.

Ok, maybe so. What's more likely to be a solution to the problem? Better players or more ass-chewing?
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Honestly, the Uptons need to go as does Gattis, Chris Johnson, Vavarro.

Back to 2011. I guess you don't remember the blown huge lead in St Louis late in the year, the blown lead in Philly, nor Infante's homer off Kimbrel after Larry Wayne's error in Miami. So yeah, the bullpen had plenty to do with it.
 
VirginiaBrave said:
Honestly, the Uptons need to go as does Gattis, Chris Johnson, Vavarro.

Back to 2011. I guess you don't remember the blown huge lead in St Louis late in the year, the blown lead in Philly, nor Infante's homer off Kimbrel after Larry Wayne's error in Miami. So yeah, the bullpen had plenty to do with it.
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So you think that constitutes "mainly?"

Forgive me if I don't pat you on the back for accurately ****canning the season? Your analysis of the problems are, as I said, 100% unsupportable and usually patently silly besides.
 
VirginiaBrave said:
Honestly, the Uptons need to go as does Gattis, Chris Johnson, Vavarro.

Back to 2011. I guess you don't remember the blown huge lead in St Louis late in the year, the blown lead in Philly, nor Infante's homer off Kimbrel after Larry Wayne's error in Miami. So yeah, the bullpen had plenty to do with it.
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Errrrrp. Back up for a sec. Justin Upton needs to go why, precisely?
 
rico43 said:
Cunningham is a very acceptable option as a CF; but can he hit? Wren might be, but his hitting already has red flags. Peraza has never played CF; that's not something a 20-21 yr. old rookie learns in the majors. In other words, if BJ makes it to spring training, he's got the job.
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Ideally Peraza would play some center this winter or at some point in spring training or in the minors next year before trying the position in the majors. Having said that it is not unheard of for a player to switch position when he reaches the majors. BJ Upton played infield before reaching the majors. His switch to center occurred at the major league level.
 
Well, those three games were enough make the difference no matter how you spin it. As for the Uptons I am just not a fan of either, BJ because of his actions, he has prima donna written all over him. Justin because of his defensive shortcomings. Lets just put it this way, I can see why we were basically able to acquire him for as little as we did. Speaking of silly, do you realize how silly the whole "Fredi must go thing" is? I don't call posters silly.
 
emk418 said:
Fredi needs to go. He's far from the only problem but we need to move on. I wouldn't be upset if we move on from Wren but I don't see a front office shake up.
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Yeah I think you're right. Firing Wren would require McQuirk (or whatever his name is) to do some work and I don't see that happening. So they'll tell Wren to find another Mgr. New mgr should be able to pick his own coaching staff and he'd be a fool to let McDowell go.

We need to change the culture in the clubhouse; a new manager could very well do that. But inheriting a roster with the Upton's is going to be a difficult task for anyone to handle. They need a smart baseball guy who can handle prima donna players with long term contracts; not easy to go down that street.
 
Of all the problems with the current roster, the LF defense of Justin Upton (you know, the guy that leads the club in HRs and RBI and is basically tied as the best hitter in the organization) is pretty close to the bottom of the list.
 
Enscheff said:
Of all the problems with the current roster, the LF defense of Justin Upton (you know, the guy that leads the club in HRs and RBI and is basically tied as the best hitter in the organization) is pretty close to the bottom of the list.
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I'm pretty much 100% with you there. I'm not exactly worried about our defense here to be honest... I'm worried about our offense that's ranked in the bottom of the league and worst in the sport.
 
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